"Show Time Power Hour" TV Taping Number 54 (Week 107)

William Regal: "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the finest sixty minutes of pro wrestling in the world, the Show Time Power Hour! I'm your host, William Regal. With me are hall of famers Michael Hayes and Jim Cornette! Gentlemen, it's Independence Day and we have an episode that's sure to set off some fireworks in the arena! We're coming off a fantastic pay-per-view in 'The Great American Bash,' where 'The Power Trip' was forced to disband after losing to 'The Richards Collective' in a match full of outside interference!"

Michael Hayes: "Yep! Punk, Austin, and 'The Revival' are probably crying the blues right now! Also tonight, Braun Strowman will defend the TV Title against Adam Cole in a 'Last Man Standing' match!"

Jim Cornette: "Plus, Ricochet is going to defend the Cruiserweight Championship against NWA: HAWK stars Matt Riddle and Will Ospreay in a 'Three-Way Dance' that should tear the house down! By the way, William, you being a Brit and all, I'll bet Independence Day here in America puts you in a more sour mood than a fat kid learning Little Debbie went out of business!"

Regal: "Very funny, Jim. Actually, I have dual citizenship, so I can celebrate American independence with a smile on my face, sunshine! Anyway, we have an exciting episode, so let's get it under way!"

Before the first match could begin, "Cult of Personality" played to bring out "The Power Trip," which was forced to disband per the rules of their 'Great American Bash' match.

CM Punk: "I want Ric Flair out here now!"

Commissioner Ric Flair came out to his iconic them with a smile on his face, looking as only he can look.

Ric Flair: "First of all, Mr. Punk, you'd better be careful calling me out here like that, if you know what's good for you! Second of all, lower your voice when you're talking to the boss! WOOOOOO!"

Punk: "Whatever, boss! You know why we're out here! We got robbed on Sunday night! We refuse to disband this group until we're given a proper rematch!"

Flair: "You refuse?! I don't think so! The stipulation was that the losing team must disband! Like it or not, your team lost! So, it's time for you to go your separate ways!"

Punk: "Did you see the same match I did?! There was interference all over the place! And, the owner and CEO of this company, not to mention the fact that he's the Chairman of the NWA Board of Governors, used his shoe to cost us the match! How can that stand?!"

Flair: "Look, I get your frustration. There was quite a bit of interference on both sides, I'll admit. The referee did not have control of the match, I'll admit that as well. But, his decision is final based on NWA bylaws. At the end of the match, he raised their hands and not yours. I don't have any say in the outcome."

Punk: "Then, why are you the Commissioner of this company?! If you can't do anything about us getting cheated, then why are you here?!"

Flair: "I told you to watch your tone with me! If you keep going down the path you're on, not only will your team be disbanded, but you'll be fired!"

Punk: "So, we're just supposed to take this lying down?! We got screwed!"

Just then, "Ladies and Gentlemen" by Saliva played to bring out CEO Jordan Richards.

Jordan Richards: "Oh, you got screwed, huh? Well, let me give you a little lesson in history. I believe it was I who brought you and your wife in and gave you both very generous contracts, of which you are still being paid. I believe it was I who put you in a very preferential spot, as a part of 'The Richards Collective,' only to see you turn your back on me! You burned me, pal! Did you think I'd forget about that?! No sir! I didn't get where I am in the business world by being a pushover! So, did I protect the interests of my group? Absolutely. Did I stick to you at the same time? Sure did! I make no excuses or apologies for what happened on Sunday! I never claimed to wear a white hat! I'm not the 'good guy' or the hero! I'm not here to save the day! I'm here to run a company and a global empire the way I see fit! If you don't like it, I can unload your hefty salary to the highest bidder!"

Steve Austin: "All right! It's time for old 'Stone Cold' to have his say! What you're doing around here is a conflict of interests, Richards! You run this company, but you also meddle in its day-to-day affairs! That's what you hired Ric Flair for, isn't it?!"

Richards: "Austin, I brought you in as well and gave you a big contract and a light travel schedule! Then, you turned your back on me as well! You're hardly ever at the training facility anymore! I could fire you for that! If I choose to engage in any part of the operation, it's my prerogative! I started the company and I own the company! Like it or not, I do what I please around here!"

Flair: "If I may interject, with all due respect, Jordan, the circumstances surrounding the outcome of that match were dubious, at best. I think the ramifications of the stipulation merit a match whereby there can be no interference."

Richards: "What are you getting at, Ric?"

Flair: "I propose a rematch here next week. The same teams with the same stipulation, except this time, we put them inside a completely enclosed steel cage so that no one can interfere from the outside."

Richards: "Why would I agree to a rematch when my team has already won?! It's senseless! Forget about it!"

Punk: "Yeah, you would turn it down! You know that your guys can't beat us in a fair fight!"

Richards: "Ha! That's laughable! Brock Lesnar has manhandled you every time he's faced you! It wasn't that many years ago that The Rock took a World Title off you, or did you forget that! Ricochet and Adam Cole are two of the best wrestlers on the planet and can run circles around you any day of the week! You're delusional if you think your group is on our level!"

Punk: "Then prove it!"

Richards: "We already did! Case closed! Now, I've had enough of this conversation. We're done here!"

Austin: "Hold on a minute! What if we up the ante?!"

Richards: "The answer is still no, but I'm listening."

Austin: "We do the match in the cage next week. Losing team disbands. That all stays the same. But, what if we add in a little extra incentive for you to accept the match? If your team wins, not only will 'The Power Trip' disband, but CM Punk will rejoin 'The Richards Collective.'"

Punk: "What?!" (Austin reassured Punk off mic)

Richards: "Why would I want that backstabbing piece of garbage back on my team?!"

Austin: "Because he's the best in the world. Because he's a proven draw. And, because he'll have to do your bidding, whether he likes it or not."

Richards: "No deal. It's not worth it."

Austin: "Did I mention that AJ comes along with the package too? She becomes your personal goffer. You'd never have to lift a finger again."

Richards: "This whole thing sounds like a trap. I'm no dummy. You're putting too much on the line for there not to be some kind of double-cross at the end of it!"

Austin: "That's how confident I am that our team will whip your team's a****!"

Flair: "If it helps your decision any, I have one more offer for this match on my end."

Richards: "Go on."

Flair: "To make sure it's called down the middle, I suggest two referees, one traditional NWA: Show Time official and one enforcer."

Richards: "So, who' the enforcer?"

Flair: "The 'Naitch-a Boy!' WOOOOO!"

Punk: "No, no, no, no!"

Richards: "You know what? I like it! I accept!"

Punk: "Wait just a minute! That's not a fair fight! Flair is partners with Richards! They screwed me out of the World Title! This isn't right!"

Flair: "It's signed, sealed, and delivered! Next week, one of these two teams will disband for good! WOOOOO!"

Regal: "Oh my! That was a blockbuster deal just worked out in the ring for next week!"

Hayes: "This will be the rematch to end all rematches!"

Cornette: "It's the end of the line for one of these two teams next week! The smart money is one 'The Richards Collective' after adding Ric Flair to the mix! He's the dirtiest player in the game! If Jordan Richards will stoop to the levels he did on Sunday, God knows Flair will stoop even lower to keep his meal ticket going!"

Regal: "That remains to be seen. Fans, let's go to the ring for our first match-up."

Match One ~ "The New Church"--"Priest of Punishment" Mikael Judas, Sinn, & Ichabod with "The Enchantress" Skyler Moon, Karen Kreep, & The Sinister Minister vs. "The All-Americans"--"Olympic Hero" Kurt Angle & "American Alpha" (Jason Jordan and Chad Gable)

This match was a chaotic menagerie of wickedness coming from the "New Church" camp and its entourage of eclectic talent. Angle and "Alpha" were overwhelmed from the onset. It's virtually impossible to get a leg up on Judas and company with the constant presence of multiple parties in each of their matches. The improvement of "American Alpha" is evident, as they are becoming more and more proficient under the tutelage of the veteran Angle. Kurt managed to cinch in his "Ankle Lock" on Ichabod, but it was broken up by Sinn and Judas, resulting in a six-way melee. In the scrum, The Sinister Minister jabbed Gable in the ribs with his cane, leaving Chad easy fodder for Judas' "El Crucifejo."

Winners = "The New Church" by pinfall in 9:45

Regal: "Another contest won by 'The New Church,' albeit dubiously so!"

Hayes: "Did you expect anything less?"

Cornette: "Exactly! That Sinister Minister is about as shady as a used car salesman peddling to the Amish!"

Regal: "Indeed! Fans, let's take a quick break. We'll be back with more in just a moment!"

Regal: "Fans, we're back! As promised, we have a 'Three-Way Dance' up next, and it's for the Cruiserweight Championship! Let's go to the ring!"

Match Two ~ NWA: Show Time Cruiserweight Championship ~ "King of the Cruiserweights" Ricochet with "La Reine" Maryse Ouellet vs. Matt Riddle with "Bonafide" Fred Yehi vs. Will Ospreay with Bea Priestley

As Riddle and Yehi were making their way to the ring, they were attacked by "Sons of Steel." All four fought to the back. Ospreay and Ricochet made their entrances and it became a one-on-one match that absolutely delighted the fans in attendance. After nearly twenty minutes of furious action, Ricochet finally hit "The Benydriller" for the win to cap off a magnificent match.

Winner and STILL NWA: Show Time Cruiserweight Champion = Ricochet by pinfall in 18:50

Regal: "That was a fantastic pro wrestling match! Marvelous!"

Hayes: "I've always liked Ricochet and I've never made any bones about it! Tonight, he proved he's one of the best in the world against another one of the best in the world!"

Cornette: "Outstanding action between those two! What chemistry in the ring!"

Regal: "Wow! After that, we need to take a break to catch our breath! Stay with us!"

Regal: "We're back! Before we go to our 'Last Man Standing' main event, let's go to Joanna Rose, who is standing by with Adam Cole and Britt Baker."

Joanna Rose: "I'm here with Adam Cole, who is set to challenge Braun Strowman for the Television Championship in a 'Last Man Standing' match in moments. Adam, what is your mindset going into a match like this against Strowman? what will it take to keep him down for ten seconds?"

Adam Cole: "What it's going to take is a Herculean effort by the best d*** pro wrestler in the world to chop the giant redwood down! My mindset going into this match is very simple. David took down Goliath with a slingshot and a smooth stone. Well, I've got many more weapons than that in my arsenal! At the end of the night, they'll be announcing a new NWA: Show Time Television Champion, and his name is Adam Cole, bay bay!"

Rose: Now, Britt, I'm sure you'll be watching out for Maria Kanellis at ringside as well."

Britt Baker: "There's no doubt about it! I'll be watching Adam's back. If that witch decides to interject herself into the match, I'll drop her where she stands!"

Rose: "There you have it! I'll throw it over to my colleague 'SoCal' Val, who's with Braun Strowman and Maria Kanellis."

Valerie Wyndham: "Thanks, Joanna! Braun, how have you prepared yourself for the 'Last Man Standing' match tonight, knowing that your championship is also on the line?"

Maria Kanellis: "Let me answer that question, Valerie! Braun Strowman is prepared for any challenge. He doesn't have to psych himself out or get into any 'zone.' He's not a mere mortal man. He's 'The Monster Among Men,' and he's going to do what monsters always do. He's going to destroy everything and everyone in his path! Braun, let's go take care of business!"

Wyndham: "Back to you, William."

Regal: "Strong words from both camps. Let's see who can back them up the best."

Match Three ~ NWA: Show Time Television Championship ~ "Last Man Standing" match ~ "The Monster Among Men" Braun Strowman with Maria Kanellis vs. Adam Cole with Britt Baker

Train wreck. Carnage. Utter war. Those are words used to describe these types of matches, which are, by nature, anything goes scenarios. This match was no different. For twenty minutes, these two beat the stuffing out of one another. Strowman controlled the vast majority of the action with his sheer size, strength, and ability to take punishment unfazed. Cole took a beating, but kept coming for more. He was determined to right the wrong that had been done against him by both Strowman and Kanellis. The match disintegrated to the floor, where plenty of plunder and weaponry was found and used. Amazingly, Cole kept getting up before the ten-count. This incensed Strowman, who began to look for more and more destructive measures to put his opponent down once and for all. Strowman set up two tables stacked on top of each other. He then erected a ladder on the stage He hammered on Cole, then threw him onto his shoulder and climbed the ladder. He set up for his "Powerslam" off the ladder and through the tables. When he jumped, Cole wiggled out of the move and onto Strowman's back, sending the behemoth crashing through both tables face-first with Cole on top of him. There was damage done to both men, but Braun certainly bore the brunt of it. The referee began to count both men. Cole and Strowman began to stir at six. They began to rise at eight. Cole got to his feet first, but Strowman was grabbing and tugging at the referee to help pull himself up, causing the referee to miss Cole even rising to his feet. Maria snuck in behind and nailed Cole in the knee with a steel chair. Cole dropped like a shot. Strowman finally got to his feet at nine. The referee looked over to Cole, who was down clutching his knee. The referee continued the count to ten. Baker charged Maria and took her down. But, her efforts were in vain. Strowman was declared the winner since the referee never saw Cole rise to break his count.

Winner and STILL NWA: Show Time Television Champion = Braun Strowman by answering the referee's ten-count in 20:41

Regal: "Maria is at it again! She took down Britt Baker, then did the same to Adam Cole, and the referee never saw it because Braun Strowman was diverting his attention!"

Hayes: "Adam Cole got robbed there! No question about it!"

Cornette: "Whether it was planned or it was incredible timing, the end sequence was a coordinated piece of genius from Maria Kanellis and Braun Strowman!"

Regal: "Either way, Strowman retains the Television Championship thanks to timely interference by Maria Kanellis. Fans, that takes us to the end of the broadcast. We're out of time. Please join us again next Tuesday on TBS for more of the Show Time Power Hour! For Michael Hayes and Jim Cornette, I'm William Regal, saying, ta ta for now!"